Glass Peaks is a proper band. You know what we mean when we say that, a proper exciting live act.
Comprised of Alfie Jefferies (Bass and vocals), Jake Cox (Guitar) and Grant Tugwell (Drums), these guys are relentlessly tearing their way through the scene.
Post-grunge/new-wave at their core, energetic, sometimes political, sometimes electronic, often sarcastic, these guys have a lot to say.
Listen to ‘Never Really Left’ below, taken from their upcoming EP, that continues the theme of social media toxicity.
Live
12th March – The Finsbury, London *supporting Johnny Kills*
4th April – Trinity, Harrow
1st May – The Old Blue Last, London *EP RELEASE SHOW*
Sounds like: Saves The Day, Thursday, Depeche Mode, White Lies, Another Sky, Blaenavon, The Clash, Manic Street Preachers
Young Midlands-based quartet JupiterMoon is causing a bit of a ruckus.
Their energetic choruses and Asian influenced guitar hooks are written for sweaty, intimate venues. Conjuring up homegrown rock anthems at Blank Studios in Nercastle, their strongest track to date ‘The Reason’ is all the justification you need.
Nashville’s John-Luke Carter, aka Mokita, is a singer/songwriter/producer known for his lyrical and buoyant electronic-based pop.
Classically trained in piano in his youth, he later taught himself to play guitar and eventually transitioned into electronic music production. Taking a rewind to his classical routes, Mokita shares an orchestral version of ‘colorblind’ and it’s spellbounding.
Effortless and majestic with a highly cinematic yet vulnerable approach, Tsar B‘s single, ‘Unpaintable’, sees her functioning as a one-woman orchestra, songwriter, producer and singer.
An ode to the muddled emotions people that are too intelligent to just live a normal life feel; ‘They are uncatchable. They are unpaintable.”
The coastal town of Bridlington isn’t the first place in the UK that you think has a buzzing music scene, but we’ve stumbled upon the brilliant Seafret, who have proved us wrong.
Made up of Jack Sedman and Harry Draper, their new single ‘Magnetic’ is an indie-pop anthem at it’s finest – addictive vocal harmonies and commercial riffs, complete with a killer pop chorus
Sounds like: Kodaline, Amber Run, Imagine Dragons, Lewis Capaldi
Luna Li (fka VEINS) shares the brooding new single, ‘Trying’.
A undeniable strong presence in the alt-pop world, Luna Li uses and blends her 14 years of classical piano and violin training with dreamy rock, to create a vulnerable and distorted sound.
L.A Songwriter Matt Simons shares ‘Cold’ – a powerful piece of electronic pop that blends nostalgia and melancholic sentiment.
Speaking about the track, which has been released in time for any Valentine’s Day pessimist, he explains,
“People change, and change in any relationship is inevitable. The only question is, can the two people change together and adapt? Cold is about a relationship where they did not.”
An introvert at heart, Dräger creates unabashed synth pop bangers born from a modern heartbreak.
Co-produced by House producer LEFTI, the single ‘New Life’ marks a fresh start for the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Spencer Draeger, as he uses sounds of the past to channel themes of the modern age, taking a satirical approach to the narcissisms and anxiety illuminated through technology.
Sounds like: New Order, Soft Cell, Holy Ghost!, Dansu, The Cure, White Lies, Cocteau Twins
We’ve seen defiant Scottish duo, The Ninth Wave play a few times now, and it’s safe to say that Haydn Park-Patterson and Millie Kidd are going to be making waves in the coming months.
Their new single ‘Imitation’ arrives with the announcement of their biggest UK headline tour to date, taking place in November 2019.
Speaking about the track, Haydn says: “Imitation is what happens when I forget about my lonely disposition and get too caught up in everyone else’s lives. It’s about how easy it is to become something you hate and we hate simple songs, so we made this song really simple and straightforward. We recorded it in the summer of 2018 with Dan Austin and Phil Parsons. This song was the quickest one of all of the 12 songs we recorded to track, as we did the backbone of it live to capture the feeling we felt when we played it live in the months prior to the Infancy sessions.”
‘Infancy Pt. I’ is out now on Distiller Records, while ‘Infancy Pt. II’ will be released on 15 November. You can pre-order here.
09/11 Think Tank? Underground, Newcastle
11/11 Picture House Social, Sheffield
12/11 The Cookie, Leicester
13/11 Sound Basement, Liverpool
14/11 Soup Kitchen, Manchester
16/11 The Flapper, Birmingham
17/11 Green Door Store, Brighton
18/11 Portland Arms, Cambridge
19/11 Electrowerkz, London
Sounds like: Walt Disco, The Lapelles, LUCIA, The Snuts, White Lies, YONAKA
The Everything Everything boys are encouraging you to dance with the brilliant ‘Can’t Do’.
A sound and look we’ve come to expect from the Manchester quartet – synth-driven pop of a cinematic nature with addictive hooks. The video depicts the need to try to fit into what society deems as “normal”.
“Can’t Do” is about trying to bend to the world and fit into it. Nobody is normal, nobody knows what normal is. ‘I can’t do the thing you want’ – we don’t care we just want you to dance.” Jonathan Higgs
It’s the first track to be taken from their forthcoming new album ‘A Fever Dream’ which has been produced by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Depeche Mode), out 18 August on RCA Records.
Sticking their middle fingers up to social media, rising four-piece October Drift are causing a stir amongst the gigging scene.
Kiran from October Drift has put together a really great playlist together for us.
Nick Drake – Hazy Jane II
Got this album (Bryter Layter) for a birthday sometime in my early teens. Took me a couple of years to really get into it, I don’t think it was instant enough for me to appreciate its subtleties at the time. Nick Drakes music gets better the more you hear it – which is the right way round, obviously.
The Velvet Underground & Nico – Sunday Morning
Easily one of the most important records of all time in my opinion. And this track is the go to for me. Not sure what it is about it but its so warm and dreamy. I’ve found myself the owner of one of the early editions of the vinyl where Andy Worhols banana peels. Apparently it could be worth some money, although I’ve accidentally ripped it a little trying to peel it!
Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright
Bob Dylan’s songwriting constantly surprises and impresses me with every listen (not ALL of his stuff, I have to say). The intricacy to his story telling from song to song and the imagery and descriptions can blow my mind and make me smile.
Simon and Garfunkel – America
Simon and Garfunkel have such a clarity and innocence in their style and again are instantly recognisable. The imagery and story of this young couple hitchhiking their way across the states is full of hope and optimism and as the song progresses maybe a sense of disillusionment creeps in as they try to ‘Look for America’ – trying to chase a false American dream perhaps.
Neil Young – Down By the River
Neil Young – Also extremely nostalgic for me, Neil Young got played a lot in the house while I was growing up. His voice is thin and kind of winey but its really emotive, the same goes for his guitar playing – he’s not the best in the world but he’s got a really distinctive sound and style which is far more important than being technically good. That’s important. His songwriting and melodies seem really natural and not over thought if that makes sense.
David Bowie – Five Years
The opening track to one of my favourite albums by one of the most inspiring, iconic and important artists ever.
Leonard Cohen – Suzanne
Leonard Cohen’s baritone voice and sad songs have without question directly influenced us and many more of our biggest musical influences (NickCave, TheNational to name a few).
The Beach Boys – I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times
A look into the messed up genius head of Brian Wilson. It’s a really sad song, but its got The Beach Boys happy sheen on it. I think there’s something really interesting in that – the juxtaposition of the care free surfer kid image and the troubled reality. I read his autobiography a few years ago, it’s really sad.
Steve Harley – That’s My Life In Your Hands
I heard this song for the first time in years and years not too long ago and it really took me back to my childhood, my dad used to play this album and this song I particularly liked. Really great melodies and an emotive chorus.
Sammy Davis, Jr. – Mr. Bojangles
I really like the story telling of this song. I don’t think it is originally Sammy Davis Jr’s but it fits perfectly with his character. It’s a sad story really of an old alcoholic dancer or entertainer Mr. Bojangles who from within a prison cell tells the story of his life and does a dance. I guess it could be a worry of most performers, be it bands, musicians or whatever that they’ll end up washed up, telling story’s of what they used to be.
Johnny Cash – I Walk the Line
The man in blacks influence on modern rock and pop music is un-chartable. There’s something so sincere and confident about this particular song. His work with Rick Ruben too at the last part of his life is so powerful and cemented that he will never be forgotten.
Syd Barrett – Baby Lemonade
I loved Pink Floyd growing up and they certainly have an influence on what we do, although it may not be as direct as other artists. They can be at times a bit too cliche druggie stadium-y but that came much later than Syd. This song is from after he left the band and put out some solo records. His story is very sad, yet has this (false) romantic side – the tortured artist kind of thing. He was very out there and original for the time and at the forefront of psychedelia.
JULY 2016 9th / LIVERPOOL CALLING FESTIVAL, LIVERPOOL
15th / HUDDERSFIELD, THE PARISH
16th / HARWORTH, THE BLACKSMITHS
17th / BLACKPOOL, BOOTLEG SOCIAL
18th / EDINBURGH, THE ELECTRIC CIRCUS
19th / HULL, THE ADELPHI
21st / DERBY, THE VENUE (Radar Love Club Night)
22nd / NOZSTOCK FESTIVAL, THE HIDDEN VALLEY
23rd / TRAMLINES FESTIVAL, SHEFFIELD (Crystal Stage)
24th / THE SUMMER WESTIVAL, ALDERSHOT
25th / TUNBRIDGE WELLS, THE FORUM
26th / LONDON, THE LEXINGTON
28th / ST ALBANS, THE HORN
29th / PLYMOUTH, UNDERGROUND
30th / READING, OAKFORD SOCIAL
AUGUST 2016 6th / KAYA FESTIVAL, PORT TALBOT
Sounds like: Interpol, The National, Editors, White Lies, Future Islands, Spector
Graveyard Club are a dreamy, yet dynamic four-piece from the US who like to write gothic-romantic music that tackles bittersweet themes of nostalgia, love, and death.
The band originally started as a duo, comprised of founding members, Matthew Schufman (vocals, synths) and Michael Wojtalewicz (guitar). The twosome began the project, inspired by a unique list of shared interests; the classic short stories of sci-fi author Ray Bradbury, the music of Ryan Gosling’s little-known band Dead Man’s Bones, and a fascination with both 50’s crooners and 80’s pop music.
Music is in the blood of Glaswegian Smash Williams; a brand new project from Gordon Skene (Frightened Rabbit) and Stuart Dougan (French Wives).
Smash Williams is reasonably new onto the music scene, yet the duo have been received praise from some top dogs in the industry. Their latest track ‘Astronaut’ has heartfelt vocals synonymous with their former music lives, but the “folkness” seems to have diminished, and replaced with a happier prowess.
Smash Williams will be making their live debut tomorrow night for Line of Best Fit’s Five Day Forecast at London’s Lexington.
Sounds like: Editors, White Lies, Interpol, Maxïmo Park, BLØSH, Spector
Last time we spoke about dark pop Brighton-based duo, MIAMIGO, they were just preparing for The Great Escape.
After a killer performance, and a successful summer, they are back with the announcement of their ‘Soda Lime Love’ EP.
The duo wrote and recorded the EP at their studio in Brighton with the four tracks pulling together a love story. Lead singer, Liam explains “We named the EP ‘Soda Lime Love’ because soda-lime is the cheapest and most common kind of glassware, compared to crystal. It’s essentially a cheap knock-off – something that looks like the real deal from afar, but on closer inspection is more like counterfeit. The EP, in order, is the stages of a failed love story; ”What I Want’ starts the EP with flaring libido, almost like the honeymoon period of a relationship, followed by the ballad-y, puppy love of ‘Seeing Two’, then the breakdown of the couple in ‘Nobody’, and the bittersweet conclusion and ultimate failing in ‘Last Summer’.
Watch the video for ‘Last Summer’:
Sounds like: The Maccabees, Young Kato, The Editors, White Lies, Delphic, Belgian Fog
Indie duo MIAMIGO has released their sophomore track, ‘Hard To Love’.
The duo describe themselves on their Soundcloud and Facebook page as; “Miamigo’s dark, twisted pop tales of the human condition examine both the bad and the beautiful air in life, laying bare the despair that hides behind the façade…”
Intriguing.
‘Hard To Love’ is taken from their forthcoming debut EP of the same name, which is out on 14 June via their own label, Indian Hop Recordings.
Those traveling to Brighton’s The Great Escape this year can catch their debut performance at Patterns on 14 May at 6:30pm.
Sounds like: The Macabees, Young Kato, The Editors, White Lies, Delphic, Belgian Fog
